I refer to the Malaysiakini report Cycling campaign: a success story .

The Centre for Public Policy Studies is pleased with the success of the Jerit (Oppressed People’s Movement)’s cycling campaign in highlighting the issues of marginalised communities in our country, despite the obstacles they faced throughout the campaign.

The CPPS, nonetheless, regrets the continuous harassment of the campaign’s participants by the Royal Malaysian Police Force.

Participants of the campaign were expressing their concerns peacefully and raising awareness amongst the public about key issues including the enactment of a minimum wage act, the abolishment of the Internal Security Act (ISA) and related laws, provision of adequate housing for all, controlled and affordable prices of goods, revival of local council elections and the halting of privatisation of public services.

The police’s actions throughout the campaign directly violate the freedom of expression, which is an inalienable right that is guaranteed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the federal constitution.

As a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council, it is all the more imperative for our law enforcement officers to respect the rights of the people. These heavy-handed tactics of fear and intimidation erode public confidence in the Royal Malaysian Police Force and inhibit their ability to improve the safety and security of the Malaysian people, in addition to inviting criticism from abroad.

The CPPS urges the police to exercise their powers responsibly and to show respect to the universal principles of human rights as well as our own federal constitution. The CPPS also recommends that the Malaysian Anti-Crime Foundation explore methods of enhancing the public’s confidence in the police force and foster cooperation between the two to fight crime more effectively.

Furthermore, the CPPS calls on the government to speed-up the establishment of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconducts Commission (IPCMC) to ensure that the police raise their standards of transparency, integrity and accountability to the citizenry of our country.

This would be in the national and public interest and would make a better country for all its citizens.

The writer is chairperson, Centre for Public Policy Studie s.